National, State, and Local Health Agencies Urge People to Stay Home and Practice Health Safety on Thanksgiving

Noting the urgency of the health crisis, the following statement have been made in recent days by federal, state and local agencies. The Wellspan Health statement about the surge of cases in Gettysburg Hospital is particularly concerning:

The U.S. Center for Disease Control:

More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days.

As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with.

Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.

President-Elect Biden:

Biden urged Americans to wear face masks and practice social distancing, saying “None of these steps we’re asking people to take are political statements. Every one of them is based on science, real science.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Health sent this message using the Federal emergency wireless alert system yesterday:

covid alert

Wellspan Health:

WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital is treating 21 COVID+ patients as of today, which is the highest amount of patients they have treated at one time since the start of the pandemic. If you compare that to 8 COVID+ patients on November 8, 2020 at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, the amount of patients being treated for COVID-19 has more than doubled over the past three weeks. Across our health system, WellSpan has gone from treating roughly 60 COVID-19 patients in September to 296 as of today. As hospitalizations continue to increase, we need everyone to understand the seriousness of the situation and take steps immediately to slow the spread of COVID-19. Practice social distancing and limit in-person interactions. Wear a mask or cloth face covering. Wash hands thoroughly and often. These are simple steps, and critical steps, to ensure that our health system can continue to care for all of our patients.

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Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.

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